Starting Seeds Indoors

A great way to save money when planting a vegetable garden (or a flower garden for that matter) is to start some of your own seeds.

Photo by Rachel Ross

I started my own indoor seed starting adventures for the first time last year. Prior to that I had either purchased seedlings locally or else just sown things that you didn’t need to start ahead-like lettuce and beans. But last year I took the plunge and started my own.

Wouldn’t you know it, I had plenty of veggies and flowers not only for my own garden but to give away to friends. Some of these seedlings were smaller than those hothouse grown specimens that you find at the store, but within a few weeks to a month they had caught up to the competition-and saved me a bundle in the process.

Photo by Oceandesetoiles

Before you jump in and get your hands in some dirt (or seed starting medium as the case may be) you need to know your region’s last frost date. Then you need to look at the packets of the seeds you will be planing and find the suggested time frame for starting each type of seed.

Although you don’t actually need light to sprout seeds, you do need it to grow plants. Personally I just use some inexpensive fluorescent lights I purchased at Lowes. I suspend them using some S hooks on some chain (the kind you can buy for hanging plant pots) on a set of shelves in the basement. The s hooks & chain enable me to raise & lower the lights to keep them close to the seedlings.

Of course you could get all fancy and build an awesome do it yourself light stand for seed starting like The Trusty Gardener did. For most of us just starting out all of that isn’t necessary. Some people don’t use a special light set up at all–they just use a good south facing windowsill.

Photo by Abigal Thompson

Once you’ve got your light situation settled it’s time to start some seeds. If you want to get a real life feel for seed starting in action check out Sugar, Spice and a little bit of Life-Jana’s got hers going! Through the Loops has a great Mini Seed Starting Tutorial that will walk you through the basic steps of starting a few seeds inside, as does Backyard Farming. And you won’t want to miss this Irreverent Seed Starting Primer at The Veggie Patch Re-Imagined. Not only does she have an informative coverage of the basics, she has a nice little Q&A for specific problems at the bottom of the post.

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About Frugal Upstate

I’m Jenn –an Upstate NY wife, mom, blogger and veteran. I talk very fast, read constantly, take on too much and make plenty of mistakes. I’m a real person, not perfection. I love to talk about the frugal lifestyle, “Village Homesteading”, living a more sustainable lifestyle and being prepared for all the curves life throws at you.

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